Thoughts on culture and events by author and illustrator Christopher R Taylor

Friday, December 16, 2011

CHRISTMAS CAROLS YOU DON'T KNOW - See Amid the Winter's Snow

Hail, thou ever blessed morn,Hail redemption's happy dawn

This carol was written by Edward Caswall in the late 1800s like many carols we now enjoy. The music was composed by Sir John Goss who taught such composers as Arthur Sullivan in the Royal Music Hall and was the musician for St Johns Cathedral in England. In 1871 this carol was published as "Hymn for Christmas Day" in Christmas Carols New And Old but the title we now know caught on and has taken hold for the name it is sung by today.

This has been sung by a few artists over the years as well, looking for something beautiful but not as common as the usual "Joy To The World" and "Deck The Halls" sorts of carols. Typically, however it is sung by chorales and choirs as arranged by Goss. This one is heard more often in England, which has a rich and beautiful history of Christmas Carols America does not often hear.

Here's Julie Andrews singing her version, and Annie Lennox has a version on her Christmas album as well.

See, amid the winter's snow,Born for us on Earth below,See, the tender Lamb appears,Promised from eternal years.

Chorus:Hail, thou ever blessed morn,Hail redemption's happy dawn,Sing through all Jerusalem,Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Lo, within a manger liesHe who built the starry skies;He who, throned in height sublime,Sits among the cherubim.